Similarities in Evasive Behavior of Wolf Spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae), American Toads (Anura: Bufonidae) and Ground Beetles (Coleopterea: Carabidae)

(excerpt) While collecting newly metalnorphosed American toads, Bufo anlericanus Holbrook, we have observed that they exhibited evasive behavior similar to that of adults of the wolf spiders, Pardosa saxatilis (Hentz), Pirata insularis Emerton, Pirata arerzicola Emerton, Pirata piratica (Oliver), and adults of the ground beetle, Elaplrrus ruscarius Say. When pursued or disturbed, the spiders, beetles and toads ran across the pound rapidly for short distances (ca. 1-50 cm). They then stopped abruptly and remained motionless. If they were further pursued, this escape sequence was repeated in the same or another direction. Toads and spiders occasionally moved to shallow water to avoid capture. Spiders ran across the water surface whereas the toads swam partially submerged. N\u27e observed this resemblance in evasive behavior on numerous occasions at ponds on the south edge of Carbondale, Illinois (spiders and toads), 1 krn west of Grinnell, Iowa (spiders and toads), and 1.5 km west of Bloomington, Illinois (spiders, toads and beetles). (Specimens were collected for identification from the latter site.

Sexual Transmission of Disease and Host Mating Systems: Within-Season Reproductive Success

While there is an extensive literature on the evolution of mating systems in animals, little consideration has been given to the possible evolutionary interactions between sexually transmitted pathogens and the mating systems of their hosts. We use individual-based models that incorporate measurable per-contact probabilities of infection and fertilization to show that not only can the presence of sexually transmitted (and sterilizing) pathogen have significant effects on optimal within-season mating strategies for both males and females. We show that, contrary to expectations, monogamy is not always predicted to be the optimal strategy. The optimal strategy may also often differ between the two sexes, and the optimal strategy will not always be the one that minimizes disease transmission. Similarly, we show that the optimal level of virulence for a sexually transmitted pathogen is a function of the degree of promiscuity of its host. Overall, these results suggest that sexually transmitted diseases can impact host mating behavior, often in nonintuitive directions

The Empirical Foundations of Teleradiology and Related Applications: A Review of the Evidence

Introduction: Radiology was founded on a technological discovery by Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895. Teleradiology also had its roots in technology dating back to 1947 with the successful transmission of radiographic images through telephone lines. Diagnostic radiology has become the eye of medicine in terms of diagnosing and treating injury and disease. This article documents the empirical foundations of teleradiology. Methods: A selective review of the credible literature during the past decade (2005?2015) was conducted, using robust research design and adequate sample size as criteria for inclusion. Findings: The evidence regarding feasibility of teleradiology and related information technology applications has been well documented for several decades. The majority of studies focused on intermediate outcomes, as indicated by comparability between teleradiology and conventional radiology. A consistent trend of concordance between the two modalities was observed in terms of diagnostic accuracy and reliability. Additional benefits include reductions in patient transfer, rehospitalization, and length of stay.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/140295/1/tmj.2016.0149.pd

Host promiscuity in symbiont associations can influence exotic legume establishment and colonization of novel ranges

Aim Invasive Acacia species have negatively impacted natural areas in multiple regions around the globe. Almost 400 Acacia species have been introduced outside their native ranges in Australia; approximately 6% have become invasive, 12% are naturalized, and 82% have no record of naturalization or invasion. This variation in invasiveness provides a comparative framework in which to examine mechanisms that either promote or constrain establishment and colonization of species in novel regions. Here, we experimentally examine the role that the legume–rhizobia symbiosis plays in the differential invasiveness of acacias introduced outside their native Australian ranges. Location Canberra, Australia. Methods We paired 12 Acacia species ranging in invasiveness globally with 12 rhizobial strains ranging in average symbiotic effectiveness. We measured plant growth and nodulation success and abundance to assess whether invasive acacias were more promiscuous hosts, that is had positive growth and nodulation responses to a broader range of rhizobial strains than naturalized and non-invasive species. Results Invasive acacias had a higher growth response across more rhizobial strains (six of 12 strains) than naturalized and non-invasive species, but invasiveness categories differed only moderately with regard to the percentage of plants with nodules and nodulation abundance. Main conclusion With respect to plant growth, invasive acacias appear to be more promiscuous hosts than naturalized and non-invasive Australian Acacia species. Plant growth response to nodulation, however, is likely more important than nodulation alone in the successful invasion of species in novel ranges. Results from this study help elucidate an important mechanism in the invasive capacity of legumes

Do Transmission Mechanisms or Social Systems Drive Cultural Dynamics in Socially Structured Populations?

Cultural traits spread via multiple mechanisms among individuals within social groups, including via transmission biases that occur when subordinates copy from dominants (prestige transmission), or via common cultural trait variants that are favoured over rare ones (consensus transmission). Most animal populations are subdivided into social groups where cultural learning occurs, yet theoretical studies of cultural trait transmission have tended to focus on within-group transmission dynamics. We developed an agent-based model of cultural transmission in socially structured populations in which a trait arises in one individual and either persists until a stable population equilibrium is reached, or goes extinct. With this model, we systematically varied group size, rates of dispersal among groups, mortality rates, transmission characteristics, the benefit of the cultural trait (including possibly negative benefits), and whether individuals disperse locally or randomly. We used generalized linear models to examine how changes in these parameters influence trait extinction, equilibrium prevalence and time to equilibrium. Four traits increased the probability of extinction: smaller group size, higher background mortality, lower transmission rate and more costly traits (although costly traits sometimes reached an equilibrium). Local dispersal and biased transmission mechanisms (prestige and consensus) had no significant effects on extinction probability, and similar patterns were found for equilibrium prevalence. We found that a lower dispersal rate and local dispersal slowed the time required for a trait to reach equilibrium, as did smaller groups, lower transmission rates and lower costs. Collectively, these analyses reveal that prestige and consensus transmission have weaker effects than other factors associated with demographic and social conditions.Human Evolutionary Biolog